Free Your Hands: 5 of the Best Smartwatches

Dropped your phone on the train tracks a few too many times? If you want to avoid being one of those people who permanently walk around with a mobile in their hands, the smartwatch is for you.

Most of the time when we’re simultaneously walking and staring into a screen, we’re not actually having phone conversations, we’re checking emails or notifications. That’s where smartwatches come in − they provide a quick and easy way to check what notifications are on your phone, so you can decide whether or not to try to find it in your bag or get it out your pocket.

If you find yourself in the habit of forever checking your phone, a smartwatch may also help rid you of this addictive habit. Smartwatches are become an essential bit of kit for fitness fans, with many having built-in heartrate monitors and GPS.

Things to consider when comparing the various smartwatches on the market are; the detail of the notifications you get, battery life, style, water resistance, compatibility with other devices and smartphones and the quality of features like microphones.

Be warned – some smartwatches are only compatible with iOS or Android. Make sure that you buy the right smartwatch for your phone! If looking like gadget man is not your scene, then a classic design with a leather or chain strap is a handsome option. Here are 5 of the best smartwatches for men with a classic design.

3. Huawei W1 Classic Smartwatch

The Huawei Smartwatch is one of the best looking of the bunch and comes in a myriad of striking design combinations. Choose an azure blue face with a brown leather strap or add some bling with a gold chain strap.

4. Apple Watch

Obviously this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the notorious Apple Watch. If the best tech is what you’re after then the Apple Watch is the one.

The rectangular sapphire crystal touchscreen and cold-forged stainless steel make this a watch to lust-after. The Apple Watch is only compatible with iPhone 5 or later running iOS 8.2 so if you’re still in contract with an undesirable, it’s just not going to work out.

The Apple Watch sells itself on providing a new way to communicate. As expected, you can send and receive messages, calls and emails. But Apple Watch also introduces new ways to express yourself. Sketch a drawing on the screen and send it to a friend or tap the screen to let someone know you're thinking about them. And for the romantically and technically savvy, you can even record your heartbeat and send it to an adored one. Now that’s what you call modern romance.

Apple Watch Tech Specs

Screen size: 1.5in

Resolution: 312 x 390

Thickness: 42mm

Battery: 205 mAh

Weight: Various

Memory: 8 GB and 512MB

5. Sony SmartWatch 2

This one’s on the list for those who want to gain the main basic advantages of having a smartwatch but don’t want to break the bank. The Sony SmartWatch 2 isn’t in the same league features-wise as the other watches on this list, but as they say you get what you pay for.

A stylish option, the sleek Sony SmartWatch 2 comes with a metal wrist strap and is the most affordable at under £100. If you don’t desire to have a sketchpad on your wrist this may be the watch for you. Slightly heavier at 120g, it doesn't have a heart rate monitor and you can't have conversations by speaking into your wrist. You’ll need to upgrade to the Sony Smartwatch 3 if you want more features.